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insomnia
insomnia abnormal wakefulness or inability to sleep . The condition may result from illness or physical discomfort, or it may be caused by stimulants such as coffee or drugs. However, frequently some psychological factor, such as worry or tension, is the cause. Mild insomnia may often be relieved ...
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sleeping pill
sleeping pill a pill containing medication that induces sleep. Benzodiazepines such as temazepam (Restoril) and triazolam (Halcion) have for the most part replaced barbiturates as drugs of choice for insomnia. Imidaopyridines, such as zolpidem tartrate, are also sometimes used for short-term tr...
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benzodiazepine
benzodiazepine , any of a class of drugs prescribed for their tranquilizing, antianxiety, sedative, and muscle-relaxing effects. Benzodiazepines are also prescribed for epilepsy and alcohol withdrawal. Introduced in the early 1960s with chlordiazepoxide (Librium), benzodiazepines were heralded as a ...
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caffeine
caffeine , odorless, slightly bitter alkaloid found in coffee , tea , kola nuts (see cola ), ilex plants (the source of the Latin American drink maté ), and, in small amounts, in cocoa (see cacao ). It can also be prepared synthetically from uric acid . While relatively harmless, it is ...
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ephedrine
ephedrine , drug derived from plants of the genus Ephedra (see Pinophyta ), most commonly used to prevent mild or moderate attacks of bronchial asthma. Unlike epinephrine , to which it is chemically similar, ephedrine is slow to take effect and of mild potency and long duration. A bronchodilator...
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Al Pacino
Al Pacino (Alberto Pacino) , 1940-, American actor, b. New York City, studied at the Herbert Berghof Studio and the Actors Studio, New York City. Known for his intense, finely tuned performances, he achieved his first successes on the New York stage, winning an Obie for his work in the off-Broadwa...
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pinworm
pinworm roundworm, Enterobius vermicularis, worldwide in distribution and the most common source of worm infestation of humans in the United States. Children are more commonly infested than adults. Adult pinworms inhabit and mate in the cecum of the large intestine and adjacent areas. When mature...
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James Thomson
James Thomson 1834-82, Scottish poet and essayist. He is remembered for his darkly pessimistic poem The City of Dreadful Night. He was raised in an orphan asylum and became (1851) an army teacher at Ballincollig, Ireland. In 1862 he was dismissed from the service for a very minor offense, became ...
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amphetamine
amphetamine , any one of a group of drugs that are powerful central nervous system stimulants . Amphetamines have stimulating effects opposite to the effects of depressants such as alcohol, narcotics , and barbiturates . They raise the blood pressure by causing the body to release epinephrine ...
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post-traumatic stress disorder
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental disorder that follows an occurrence of extreme psychological stress, such as that encountered in war or resulting from violence, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, or serious accident. The stressful event is usually followed by a period of emotional numbnes...
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